Soldier Arrested in Maduro Raid Bets on Prediction Market Profits

A U.S. Army Special Forces soldier linked to the operation that resulted in Venezuela’s Nicolás Maduro being ousted has been arrested and charged for allegedly turning his access to sensitive information into personal profit through a prediction market.

Prosecutors say Sgt. Gannon Ken Van Dyke, 38, participated in the plan to capture Maduro and then used his access to classified information to place more than a dozen bets on Polymarket predicting Maduro’s capture. Officials allege he earned more than $400,000 from these bets and placed at least $33,000 in bets before the public announcement of the operation in January.

The indictment charges Van Dyke with three counts of violating the Commodity Exchange Act, each carrying a potential decade-long prison term. He also faces one count of wire fraud and one count of an unlawful monetary transaction.

Authorities emphasized that clearance holders are prohibited from exploiting sensitive information for personal gain. The case is being pursued in New York federal court, where prosecutors say the events surrounding the raid and its aftermath are central to the charges. The broader context includes ongoing scrutiny of how prediction markets intersect with national security and the ethics of using classified knowledge for financial bets. The raid, which involved Maduro’s capture in January, marked a high-profile moment in U.S.-Venezuela relations and has prompted questions about accountability for personnel involved in sensitive operations.

As the legal process unfolds, Van Dyke faces potential prison time if convicted on the charges. The case underscores the tension between rapid, real-time information and the safeguards designed to protect national security information from being exploited for personal gain.

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